Another season of twists ahead in club camogie scene
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Carmel Garry from Brownstown and Marion O’Riordan from the fixtures committee.Image 2 of 17
Katie Penrose and Meadbh McLoughlin from Crookedwood.Image 3 of 17
Margaret Daly (fixtures officer), Fergus Shaw (Castletown Geoghegan) and Sharon Duffy (assistant treasurer).Image 4 of 17
Eoin Cawley from Cullion with Laura Kilcoyne from Castlepollard.Image 5 of 17
Keelan Clarke (development officer) and Jackie Jackson (childrens officer).Image 6 of 17
Denise Muldoon and Caroline Carton from Westmeath camogie.Image 7 of 17
Karen Goldrick (Westmeath chairperson) with Chloe Ruane from Castletown Geoghegan.Image 8 of 17
Jason Keelan (PRO) and Maura Buckley from Cullion.Image 9 of 17
Annemarie Moran and Amy Duncan from Drumraney.Image 10 of 17
Philomena McCarthy, Erin Maloney and Laura Heffernan in Tyrrellspass.Image 11 of 17
Rachel Cheevers and Ciara Keegan from St Oliver Plunkett’s.Image 12 of 17
Martin Griffith and Sinead Fitzpatrick from Collinstown.Image 13 of 17
Katie Coleman and Saoirse McGee of Raharney.Image 14 of 17
Bridget Leavy and Aileen Lawlor from St Munna’s.Image 15 of 17
Katie Muldoon, Becca Croash and Katie Nea from Clonkill.Image 16 of 17
Sarah Carter, Gearóid Ó Duibhir and Emer Galvin from Southern Gaels.Image 17 of 17
Aine Newman from Delvin and Sandra McGrath from St Munna’s.A fine night was had in the Village Barn, Tyrrellspass last Monday as the launch of the Westmeath Camogie Club Championships 2024 took place.
The senior grade will continue to be sponsored by well-known local firm David Smyth Catering, while the junior will, once again, be backed by Deelside Coaches from Raharney. Westmeath Camogie chairperson Karen Goldrick, secretary Laura Heffernan, and members of the executive were also there.
John Weir (Leinster Camogie) attended on behalf of provincial chairman, Martin Quilty. A short discussion panel consisting of current players Aideen Dermody (Lough Lene Gaels), Maura Buckley (Cullion), referee Eoin Cawley (Cullion) and past-President, Aileen Lawlor (St Munna’s) gave their opinions and aspirations before the draw itself.
Each of the clubs in the county were well represented at the official launch while the Tyrrellspass venue was a hive of activity involving representatives from all levels. Westmeath Camogie PRO, Jason Keelan, took everyone through the proceedings of the live streamed draw before getting things underway. In the senior grade, defending champions, Raharney, and 2023 finalists, Clonkill, were seeded before last season’s semi-finalists, Drumraney and Lough Lene Gaels, were next out. An open draw then placed the remaining sides – Crookedwood, Castletown-Geoghegan, Delvin, St Brigid’s, and newly-promoted, St Munna's – into the two groups.
At junior, relegated senior side of 2023, Cullion, were put alongside Castlepollard (2023 finalists) in the draw before all remaining sides were added. St Oliver Plunkett’s, Southern Gaels, and Brownstown joined the second-sides of Raharney, Clonkill, Lough Lene Gaels, and Drumraney to make up the nine sides.
The draw was conducted by Westmeath executive and fixtures committee members, Marion O’Riordan and Mags Daly. Clonkill will get their campaign going against Castletown-Geoghegan while Crookedwood and Lough Lene Gaels will do battle in the other Group 1 fixture. Defending champions, Raharney, begin with a week off in the five-team Group 2. Delvin meet Drumraney while it’s a battle of the saints as Munna's have home advantage over Brigid’s. There will be some hard-fought games in both groups as the top two in each will advance to the semi-finals. Bottom sides will contest the relegation survival game, with the victor entering into the Senior B. The same format applies to junior. The top tier championship is sure to throw up some eye-catching fixtures throughout, not least in the opening round where several Westmeath county teammates will meet in Crookedwood when the Collinstown side in purple and gold come to visit. Raharney will have the benefit of seeing the lay of the land through the opening weekend with their ‘bye’ round. St Munna's will be hopeful of continuing their national form from 2023 into this season. Their biggest test in their All-Ireland run actually came in the county final against Castlepollard, highlighting the strength in club camogie in the Lake County. St Brigid’s will be looking to try create a stir in that first round tie, no doubt.
In the junior grade, Group 1 begins with two second-sides in Clonkill and Lough Lene Gaels facing off while Brownstown and Cullion meet in the other. The bigger group certainly has some stand-out meetings. Raharney face Southern Gaels, Plunkett’s play Drumraney, while Castlepollard can relax on day one. With Cullion hoping to work their way back up, expect them to put in a serious challenge for the title.
Following the Q&A chat and with clubs and their representatives digesting the draw and fixtures for round one, children’s officer, Jackie Jackson, outlined the visions, plans, and hopes for the county in camogie from 2024 to 2027 through the strategic plan. This document is a culmination of vast work in terms of surveys, feedback, analysis, future planning, and collaboration with the clubs and their members. The plan also highlights the growing numbers in players in the county, which stands at nearly 1,400 with a membership of over 2,300 in clubs.
The championship season for clubs will begin following the ending of Westmeath Camogie in the All-Ireland Intermediate grade. It promises to be another season of twists and drama as clubs aim to bring home silverware.